The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization working to monitor and promote respect for human rights and legal reform in Sudan.

ACJPS has a vision of a Sudan where all people can live and prosper free from fear and want in a state committed to justice, equality and peace.

Our Mission

ACJPS is dedicated to creating a Sudan committed to all human rights, the rule of law and peace, in which the rights and freedoms of the individual are honored and where all persons and groups are granted their rights to non-discrimination, equality and justice.

Our Objectives

• To document human rights violations and protect those at risk.
• To hold perpetrators of serious human rights violations and international crimes to account.
• To ensure effective access to justice and obtain reparation for victims of gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
• To strengthen respect for human rights in Sudanese governance, society and culture.

Our Approach

Since its inception in 2009 ACJPS has performed vital human rights monitoring and protection functions and has built a solid reputation for the credibility, impartiality and professionalism of its work. ACJPS has also played a vital role in providing technical support and training to new civil society organisations and informal activist networks.

The expulsions and suspensions of international and national civil society groups in Sudan after the March 2009 decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for President al-Bashir severely curtailed the ability of groups within Sudan to openly monitor the human rights situation in the country. However, through the expertise of our staff and their networks throughout Sudan, ACJPS is uniquely positioned to conduct monitoring, legal, and advocacy functions.

ACJPS works with dedicated networks and partners inside and outside Sudan to achieve its goals, build alliances and strengthen the impact of its work.

Through the expertise of our staff and networks, ACJPS is uniquely positioned to monitor and strengthen respect for human rights in Sudan.

Core activities

ACJPS runs three core, mutually reinforcing programmes of work:

1. Human rights monitoring programme: monitors and documents human rights violations; refers cases of individuals at risk to advocacy and legal programmes.
2. Legal programme: monitors legal developments and conducts legal research; conducts strategic litigation to pursue effective remedies for human rights violations and to influence law, policy and practice. Supports efforts to use international and regional mechanisms to hold perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and international crimes to account.
3. Advocacy Programme: publishes evidence-based advocacy materials and engages with domestic, regional and international policy-makers to influence human rights decision making in and on Sudan. Engages in campaigns to raise awareness of human rights problems and solutions in Sudan at the domestic, regional and international level.

Cross-cutting through all our programme areas, ACJPS provides human rights and advocacy training, as well as technical support to activists, to advance and implement international human rights standards within Sudan.

ACJPS has offices located in NY, London, and Kampala.